This Strange '90s Ford Concept Truck Is for Sale in Detroit

If you're into obscure '90s concept cars (and who isn't?), this might be the project for you. It's a four-wheel drive Ford F-250-based truck called the Predator, which the seller claims was built as a show vehicle for the 1993 Detroit Auto Show. We talked to the owner to get the low-down on this historic, unusual truck.

There isn't much info online about the Predator concept, but Deone, the the man selling this one-of-a-kind Ford concept, told me during a phone interview it was designed right after the SVT Lightning by the same engineers. Every body panel, including the bumpers, doors, cab, tailgate, and fenders, is fiberglass.

Deone / Craigslist

Deone told me he spotted the Predator prototype soon after it was taken off display, in a warehouse owned by a friend that was often used by the big three Detroit automakers. He just had to have it. After years of inquiring, he finally convinced Ford to release the car and sell it to him last fall.

In order to avoid any liability, Deone says Ford removed the gas tank and transmission from the truck, but left the fully functional 351-cubic inch Cleveland V8. According to Deone, the brakes, gauges, and air conditioning are all functional, and the early-1990s-era Ford interior is intact. The doors are operated electronically via a button on the back side of each handle.

On the left is the 1993 F-150, sold when the Predator prototype was first revealed. On the right is the next-gen 1997 F-150. You can see echoes of the Predator’s design in the rounded shape.

Ford

Deone / Craigslist

When the Predator was first unveiled, Ford's production F-150 was a boxy design full of right angles. But once the new-generation truck came around in 1997, it showed some of the rounder shapes first previewed on this concept truck four years prior. The front fenders sport a curvier shape, with familiar lines in the larger, more sculpted cab. That big front light-grille panel didn't make the cut, but the overall motif is similar.

Since the concept doesn't have a VIN, it can't be registered for the street. Deone's original plan was to turn the truck into a hardcore off-roading machine, a project he began by removing the engine. Friends then suggested there might be a market for such an obscure machine. So he's listed it for sale with the engine removed, but he assured me the original engine will be included for authenticity. We've reached out to Ford to inquire about the history of the Predator concept; we will update this post with anything we learn.

Deone / Craigslist

It’s hard to put a value on something this unique—it’s not like you can look at other concept car sales to get a feel for the market. But if you’re in the market for a one-of-one Ford concept truck, Deone’s $20,000 asking price might just be the right number for you. Find it here on Craigslist in Commerce, Michigan.

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